The Princess and Her Rough-Rider Khan
Chapter 406 - 405 Accompany you home for a family visit, okay? (Second update)

Chapter 406: 405 Accompany you home for a family visit, okay? (Second update)

Seeing that Li Xianyun was about to get up and leave, Sheng Heng called out to her, "Xianxian."

Li Xianyun sat back down, looked at Sheng Heng with confusion, and asked, "What’s the matter, Big Brother Sheng?"

Sheng Heng’s Adam’s apple bobbed, he hesitated for a moment, and opened his mouth as if he wanted to speak.

Seeing this, Li Xianyun had already guessed what he was about to say. Her red lips parted lightly as she said, "Big Brother Sheng, I just remembered there are some things I would like you to convey to my father and mother."

"Sure, go ahead."

It wouldn’t be too late to say what he wanted after she had spoken.

Li Xianyun said, "Tell my father and mother that I’m doing very well in the Khitan. The Khan places me above all else, and showers me with his utmost love. Being able to be associated with the Khan is my great fortune in my three lifetimes. My heart has long been given to him, and in this life I can no longer hold another, so let my father and mother not worry."

Upon hearing her words, Sheng Heng felt as if he had been struck by lightning out of a clear sky, and his heart filled with despair.

He still remembered sending her off on her journey to marry into the Khitan.

Li Xianyun had firmly refused him then as well, saying that there was no fate between them and that he should let go of his obsession and look to the people around him.

Now she had refused him again.

He had wanted to ask Li Xianyun whether, if Yelu Yan had grown tired of her and treated her badly, there was still a possibility for him?

But he could never ask this question again; he could only forcefully swallow it down with all his tears and blood.

Li Xianyun surely had already perceived what he wanted to say, and that was why she rejected him again in the most dignified way, fully saving his face.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

Li Xianyun said, "Come in."

A guard pushed the door open, and a tall and lean figure walked in.

Yelu Yan looked at Li Xianyun with a burning gaze, a smile he could not suppress hanging on his lips, his handsome face flushed with excitement.

Li Xianyun’s face turned red.

Yelu Yan, with his high martial skills and extraordinary hearing, could hear things others could not.

Seeing his overjoyed demeanor, it was clear that he had heard every word she had just said.

Seeing Yelu Yan enter, the three of them stood up to pay their respects.

Youlan stood behind Li Xianyun.

One could be informal when the Khan was away, but one couldn’t act out of place when he was present.

Yelu Yan walked straight to Li Xianyun’s side, took her into his arms, and looked down at her, only then noticing that the rims of her eyes and the tip of her nose were slightly red, obviously after crying.

A frown creased Yelu Yan’s brow involuntarily, and the extreme excitement in his heart dissipated slowly like mist.

Li Xianyun averted her gaze and did not look at him.

Yelu Yan looked deeply at Li Xianyun for a moment before he turned to Sheng Heng and said, "Mr. Sheng, are you returning to Chang’an?"

As he spoke, Yelu Yan settled Li Xianyun in a chair and sat down himself.

Sheng Heng sat down and said, "I have finished all my business in the Khitan and plan to start my journey back to Chang’an tomorrow."

He was finally leaving.

Yelu Yan asked, "At what time tomorrow will you start your journey?"

"At noon."

"I have prepared gifts for my father and mother-in-law. Please, Mr. Sheng, take them back with you."

Father and mother-in-law?

Sheng Heng looked slightly astonished; by referring to the Prince and his wife as father-in-law and mother-in-law and even preparing gifts, Yelu Yan was clearly not as barbaric and crude as the rumors suggested.

He managed to squeeze out an "Alright."

Yelu Yan turned his head to look at Li Xianyun and said, "Xianxian, after we go back to the palace, you should also see what you want to send to father, mother, and your younger brother and sister. Tomorrow, I will accompany you to see off Mr. Sheng. Is that alright?"

Li Xianyun hummed a sound of assent, indeed she had the same intention.

The two gazed at each other, their eyes full of love and silent words.

Sheng Heng’s brows furrowed slightly; Yelu Yan and Li Xianyun’s relationship was indeed very good, and his presence there was utterly superfluous.

His heart fell into an icy cavern, bereft of any warmth.

It felt hollow inside, like a kite with its string cut, drifting with the wind and unsure of where to fly back to.

Yelu Yan looked at Sheng Heng and said, "I was preoccupied with official duties just now and could not attend to you properly. Let me have a few more dishes served and share a few drinks with you, Young Master Sheng."

Sheng Heng knew that staying any longer would drive him mad with jealousy, so he quickly responded, "Tomorrow, I need to start my journey back to Chang’an and it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to drink. Please forgive me, Khan."

Yelu Yan was always generous with alcohol, and Li Xianyun, fearing he might force Sheng Heng to drink excessively, spoke up, "Husband, we have finished our meal and plan to return."

Yelu Yan took Li Xianyun’s small hand in his, gave it a gentle squeeze, and said, "As you wish."

The tenderness was palpable.

Sheng Heng watched the couple, not wanting to stay there for another moment.

The group descended the stairs, said their goodbyes to each other, and Sheng Heng climbed into his carriage and left.

He lifted the curtain at the back of the carriage a crack and saw Yelu Yan hold Li Xianyun tight in his embrace, kissing her forehead before scooping her up and carrying her onto the carriage.

Sheng Heng let the curtain fall, leaned heavily against the wall of the carriage, closed his eyes, and scrunched his brows, with the words of his grandmother, the elder Mrs. Sheng, echoing in his ears.

"Heng, what’s meant to be will come to pass; if it’s not meant to be, do not force it. Xianxian has no feelings for you; you must take care of yourself."

Now, he truly had to take care of himself.

Yelu Yan carried Li Xianyun onto the carriage and was stunned by the number of items filling it up.

"Xianxian, are these all from your father and mother?" he asked.

Li Xianyun smiled and replied, "Some are for you too."

"For me?" he inquired.

Li Xianyun hummed softly in affirmation.

Qiu Qianyun, unsure of Yelu Yan’s measurements, had brought several rolls of fine cloth for Li Xianyun to tailor a few outfits for Yelu Yan.

Yelu Yan was delighted and said, "Let me see them."

"We will when we get back to the palace," she responded.

"Alright."

As he spoke, Yelu Yan settled Li Xianyun onto a seat and, following her wishes, stacked up several parcels.

His stature was so large that without stacking the parcels up, there would be no room to sit.

After making space, Yelu Yan lifted Li Xianyun onto his lap, his rough hand resting on her delicate waist, while the other hand settled on her soft bottom.

Yelu Yan kissed her blush-tinged, tender lips twice, peering into her eyes with a slightly serious expression. "Why are you crying, hmm?"

Some time had passed, and Li Xianyun thought it was no longer noticeable. "Husband, you’re mistaken; I’m not crying."

She really did keep everything from him, sharing nothing.

Annoyed, Yelu Yan grasped the nape of Li Xianyun’s neck and dominated her with a fervent, drenched kiss.

Li Xianyun closed her eyes, her long lashes trembling. Forced to part her lips, she let him invade and entwine with her without resistance.

Only when Li Xianyun softened in his arms did Yelu Yan pull back from her lips, looking up at her and gently smoothing the hair at her temples. "Are you homesick?"

Li Xianyun wrapped her arms around his strong, solid neck, embraced him fully, placing her chin on the warmth of his neck, and nodded lightly.

Yelu Yan held her close, his cheek with a hint of stubble gently rubbing against her soft ear. "After internal affairs stabilize, I will accompany you home to see your family, alright?"

His voice was so pleasant and tender, radiating endless warmth, as though it could melt the ice of the twelfth lunar month.

Li Xianyun’s gaze quivered.

Return home to see her family? How could that be easy?

If it was just ordinary folk, that would be one thing, but he was a ruler, and she a princess. To enter an opposing country, involving the political situation of both nations, would surely be fraught with endless difficulties; it wasn’t something that could just be achieved by wanting it.

When Li Xianyun had first set out on the path of this political marriage, she had in fact foreseen that it would be difficult to see her family again in this life.

But the fact that Yelu Yan had this intention already moved her greatly.